The period to upgrade Windows 7 and 8.1 to Windows 10 is ending soon, and Microsoft are pushing users harder to accept it, using tactics that are earning them some badpress.

I like Windows 10 a lot, enough that I’m now using it on all my Windows PCs at home, but I also believe that OS upgrades should be planned, not driven solely by the vendor’s timetable. Things can go wrong during an upgrade, which is why pre-upgrade tasks like backing up data are important.

Microsoft has provided a mechanism for disabling the Get Windows 10 (GWX) app, but making use of it is beyond the confidence level of many users. There are some apps floating around to make it easier to implement the block, but the cleanest I’ve found so far is Steve Gibson’s Never10. It’s a tiny download, with a simple interface, and leaves no footprint after deletion. Definitely recommended for those who want to take control of the upgrade process.